LITTLE ROCK — FOOTBALL
Bears’ Tillman placed on IR
Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman was placed on injured reserve and will miss the season finale against Detroit after breaking his ribs. Defensive lineman Israel Idonije also went on IR on Wednesday because of a foot injury. Tillman, second in the NFL with six forced fumbles, was injured during the Bears’ 36-30 overtime victory over Minnesota on Monday night. He broke his ribs and sustained a lung contusion on a helmet hit from teammate Craig Steltz as they tried to tackle Minnesota’s Visanthe Shiancoe on a catch.
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson says he’s been fined $5,000 by the NFL for painting “DIII” under his eyes rather than using a standard strip of eye black during last weekend’s game at Atlanta. Jackson complained about the fine after practice Wednesday, and said he intends to file an appeal. Jackson was surprised by the punishment because he’s been wearing “DIII” - which stands for his Division III college football background - since the Coe College product first broke into the league with Buffalo in 2007. He said he’s previously received no warnings from the league.
Tennessee linebacker Keith Bulluck and cornerback Nick Harper have been placed on injured reserve by the Titans before their season finale at Seattle. Bulluck tore his left anterior cruciate ligament Dec. 20 in a victory over Miami. The Titans didn’t immediately need the roster spot, but they placed him on injured reserve Wednesday. Harper says he re-broke his right forearm at the spot where he originally hurt his arm Oct. 11. He said he had been playing through pain when he returned five weeks after the injury to start six consecutive games.
GOLF
Report: Tiger had ‘fat lip’
The Florida Highway Patrol says Tiger Woods had a “fat lip” and no other visible facial injuries when the golfer met with officers four days after the car accident outside his home. Patrol spokesman Kim Montes told Orlando TV station WESH-TV on Wednesday that Woods and his attorney met with the officers Dec. 1 at an undisclosed location in Orlando. The meeting followed three days of attempts by troopers to talk to Woods at his home. Montes said the officers wanted to see if Woods had any injuries that were inconsistent with a car accident. She says troopers found no reason to believe Woods was a victim of domestic violence.WRESTLING ‘Dr. Death’ dies at 49
A former coach says Steve Williams, who wrestled professionally as “Dr. Death” after a successful college wrestling and football career, has died. He was 49. Former University of Oklahoma wrestling coach Stan Abel said Williams’ family told him Williams died Tuesday night in Lakewood, Colo., after a long battle with throat cancer. Williams was a four-time All-American as a heavyweight at Oklahoma from 1979-1982 and finished second nationally his senior year. He was an All-Big Eight Conference offensive guard for Oklahoma in 1982.
BASEBALL
A’s bring back Duchscherer
The Oakland Athletics have found a familiar face to be one of their front-line starters next season: Justin Duchscherer. The righthander and two-time All-Star has agreed to terms on an incentive laden one-year contract to return to the A’s after he missed all the 2009 season. Duchscherer, 32, will receive a base salary of $1.75 million.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with second baseman Kelly Johnson on a one-year contract. General Manager Josh Byrnes says he believes Johnson “will return to form after a down 2009 season” and “has a strong track record for hitting.”HOCKEY
HS player collapses, dies
Authorities say an initial autopsy was inconclusive for a Massachusetts high school hockey player who collapsed and died after practice. Matthew McCarthy, 17, of Merrimac was a captain on a Pentucket Regional High School team. The team was doing noncontact drills Tuesday at a rink in Haverhill (HAYV’-ril), north of Boston. Police say after practice the team gathered at center ice to talk with the coach and McCarthy collapsed. Police say the teenager was treated at the rink before being taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Wednesday’s autopsy failed to show cause of death. The Essex County district attorney office said investigators are waiting for a toxicology report.
BOXING Pacquiao files suit against Mayweather
LAS VEGAS - Manny Pacquiao upped the ante Wednesday in his standoff with Floyd Mayweather Jr. by filing a lawsuit alleging that Mayweather and others defamed him by falsely accusing Pacquiao of using performance-enhancingdrugs.
The suit filed in federal court in Las Vegas further complicates efforts to reach an agreement for a proposed March 13 fight between the boxers. The fight has been stalled by demands by the Mayweather camp that both fighters submit to random blood and urine tests leading up to the bout.
Pacquiao claimed in the suit that he has never tested positive for any performance-enhancing drugs, but that Mayweather, his father and uncle, Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions chief Richard Schaefer embarked on a campaign to make people think he used drugs.
“The truth did not stop Mayweather and the others,” the suit contends. “That is because they are motivated by ill will, spite, malice, revenge and envy.”
Pacquiao’s attorney, Dan Petrocelli, said his client could be out millions of dollars if boxing fans believe he used steroids or human growth hormone to win titles in seven weight classes.
“The damage to his reputation and lost business opportunities could be in the tens of millions of dollars,” Petrocelli said.
The suit cites various interviews done by the defendants in which they intimated Pacquiao’s strength and power did not come naturally. Among the interviews cited was an October radio interview in which Mayweather Jr. allegedly said Pacquiao’s physique was different “cause we know the Philippines got the best enhancing drugs.”
Schaefer said the suit came as no surprise since Pacquiao had threatened it earlier in the week. He said his attorneys would respond to it even as talks continue for the fight.
“I’m hearing these talks are being productive,” Schaefer said. “Hopefully we will know something in the next couple of days.”
Mayweather and Pacquiao had been expected to meet in what promises to be the richest fight ever after they reached agreement over everything from the size of their purses to the make of their gloves for the welterweight megafight. But a demand by Mayweather’s camp for both fighters to be subjected to Olympic-style blood testing has stood in the way of a final agreement for the bout.
Sports, Pages 16 on 12/31/2009